Abstract: In the presence of a metal catalyst such as a samarium compound, an oxime ester compound shown by the formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are the same or different from each other, and each represents a non-reactive atom or a non-reactive organic group; and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, together with the adjacent carbon atom, may bond together to form a ringis reacted with a cyanogenation agent such as an .alpha.-cyanohydrin compound (e.g., acetone cyanohydrin)to form an .alpha.-aminonitrile derivative. By hydrolyzing the .alpha.-aminonitrile derivative, the corresponding .alpha.-amino acid or a salt thereof can be obtained. According to the above processes, an .alpha.-aminonitrile derivative and an .alpha.-amino acid can be obtained in high yields.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a process for preparing a TiCl.sub.3 ether complex, such as TiCl.sub.3 (THF).sub.3, by reaction of corresponding TiCl.sub.4 ether complex with a metal powder, which produces a soluble metal chloride complex, in ether solvent. The TiCl.sub.3 ether complex that is prepared has a low aluminum content.

Abstract: A process for producing an asymmetric compound using a metal complex containing no rare earth metal element is disclosed. The process affords an optically active compound having high optical purity. Optically active binaphthol having the chemical formula and lithium aluminum hydride are reacted, or the optically active binaphthol, a dialkyl aluminum hydride, and a base containing an alkali metal (or a base containing alkaline earth metal) are reacted to prepare a metal complex comprising optically active binaphthol, aluminum, and alkali metal (or alkaline earth metal). This metal complex can be used as a catalyst to perform an asymmetric Michael reaction, an asymmetric phosphonylation reaction, or the like, to obtain, in a high yield, an asymmetric compound having high optical purity.

Abstract: A method for producing alkylated cyanoacetylurea from an easily obtainable starting material. An industrially available cyanoacetylurea and a carbonyl compound are reacted in a polar solvent under reducing conditions to alkylate cyanoacetylurea In addition, a reaction of cyanoacetylurea and acetone under reducing conditions affords isopropylation of cyanoacetylurea.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Raney catalyst comprising iron, cobalt, a third metal wherein the third metal is selected from the group consisting of nickel, rhodium, ruthenium, palladium, platinum, osmium, iridium and mixtures of any of these metals.

Abstract: A process for purifying a nitrile such as acrylonitrile is disclosed. The process comprises (1) contacting a product mixture, which comprises acrylonitrile and hydrogen cyanide, with glycolic acid or a glycolic acid-generating compound to produce a glycolic acid-treated product; and (2) recovering the nitrile from the glycolic acid-treated product. The product mixture can be produced by contacting ammonia with an olefin under a condition effective to produce a nitrile and hydrogen cyanide.

Abstract: A process for producing acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile, wherein a molybdenum compound, which is convertible to molybdenum oxide and not supported on a carrier is added to a fluidized bed reactor as an activator, in such a way that the ratio y of molybdenum atoms in the oxide catalyst represented by the formula:Mo.sub.y Bi.sub.p Fe.sub.q A.sub.a B.sub.b C.sub.c D.sub.d E.sub.e O.sub.fwill be maintained in the range of 1.02x to 1.12x (x=1.5p+q+a+c+1.5d+1.5e) during an ammoxydation reaction.

Abstract: A process for the coproduction of 6-aminocapronitrile (ACN) and hexamethylenediamine (HMD) by treatment of adiponitrile (ADN) with hydrogen in the presence of a nickel-containing catalyst at temperatures not below room temperature and elevated hydrogen partial pressure in the presence or absence of a solvent comprises, after the conversion based on ADN and/or the selectivity based on ACN has or have dropped below a defined value(a) interrupting the treatment of ADN with hydrogen by stopping the feed of ADN and of the solvent, if used,(b) treating the catalyst at from 150 to 400.degree. C. with hydrogen using a hydrogen pressure within the range from 0.1 to 30 MPa and a treatment time within the range from 2 to 48 h, and(c) then continuing the hydrogenation of ADN with the treated catalyst of stage (b).

Abstract: The present invention provides a simple, 1-step process for preparing a N-(aryl or heteroaryl)-hydroxyurea comprising reacting the corresponding alcohol, ester or ether with hydroxyurea and acid. This reaction is particularly useful for preparing a benzo[b]thienyl substituted N-hydroxyurea of formula: ##STR1## from compound 1: ##STR2## by reacting compound 1 with hydroxyurea and acid. R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 1-6 carbon alkyl, 1-6 carbon alkoxy, and halogen; R.sup.2 is an 1-4 carbon alkyl; and R.sup.3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, acyl, methyl, ethyl and mixtures thereof. Additional steps to isolate the pure bulk product follow.

Abstract: Process for producing acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile from propane or isobutane by ammoxidation at a temperature in the range of from 380 to 500.degree. C. in a fluidized-bed reactor containing a catalyst composition preheated to a temperature of not lower than 300.degree. C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a high-quality aliphatic nitrile in a high yield at a low cost without the dissolution of a catalyst in the product, which comprises reacting an aliphatic carboxylic acid, a lower alkyl ester thereof or a fatty acid glyceride with ammonia in the presence of a solid catalyst which exhibits a high activity even at a reaction temperature of as low as 300.degree. C. or below and is difficultly soluble in the reaction fluid; and a process for the preparation of amines by hydrogenating the aliphatic nitrile prepared by the above process. Namely, the present invention provides a process for the preparation of an aliphatic nitrile by reacting an aliphatic carboxylic acid, a lower alkyl ester thereof or a fatty acid glyceride with ammonia in the presence of a composite oxide catalyst comprising titanium oxide as the main component; and a process for the preparation of amines by hydrogenating the aliphatic nitrile prepared by the above process.

Abstract: A process for selectively hydrogenating a dinitrile to an aminonitrile is provided. The process comprises contacting a dinitrile with a hydrogen-containing fluid in the presence of a solvent and a metal catalyst in which the solvent comprises liquid ammonia, an alcohol, ammonium hydroxide, or combinations thereof and the metal catalyst comprises nickel and iron and can be supported on an inorganic support such as, for example, magnesium oxide.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of five-membered or six-membered ring lactams from aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitriles has been developed. In the process an aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is first converted to an ammonium salt of an .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid in aqueous solution using a catalyst having an aliphatic nitrilase (EC 3.5.5.7) activity, or a combination of nitrile hydratase (EC 4.2.1.84) and amidase (EC 3.5.1.4) activities. The ammonium salt of the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid is then converted directly to the corresponding lactam by hydrogenation in aqueous solution, without isolation of the intermediate .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid or .omega.-aminocarboxylic acid. When the aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is also unsymmetrically substituted at the .alpha.-carbon atom, the nitrilase produces the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid ammonium salt resulting from hydrolysis of the .omega.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing 4-cyano-2,5-difluoroaniline, which is an intermediate in the preparation of herbicides or liquid crystals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to certain 16-hydroxy-11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, to processes for their preparation, to pharmaceutical formulations containing them and to their use in medicinal therapy, particularly in the treatment or prophylaxis of glucocorticoid dependent diseases or symptoms.

Abstract: A compound or a salt thereof comprising a polyamine containing at least 2 electron-affinic groups is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the polyamine compound has the structure: wherein:A is a spacer; R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are independently hydrogen, hydrocarbon, heterosubstituted hydrocarbon, heteroaryl, heterosubstituted heteroaryl, or an electron-affinic group containing substituent; and the compound contains at least one tertiary amine functionality having three substituents each of which independently contain at least one electron-affinic group or hydrophilic group.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for making radiosensitizing diamines. This method comprises converting a compound having formula (5): ##STR1## to a compound having formula (6): ##STR2## using dimethyl sulfoxide activated by oxalyl chloride, and the treating the compound having formula (6) with a diamine reagent in the presence of an organic acid and a reducing agent.

Abstract: A chiral ligand of the formula (I) or formula (I'), ##STR1## was synthesized. The chiral ligand (I) or formula (I') can chelate to metals to form a catalytic complex to catalyze the addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide to aldehydes to give optically active cyanohydrin, each individually.

Abstract: The process of the present invention comprises transporting a reactor effluent containing acrylonitrile/methacrylonitrile to a first column (quench) where the reactor effluent is cooled with a first aqueous stream, transporting the cooled effluent into an indirect contact cooler to condensed at least some of the cooled effluent to form a condensate comprising water and acrylonitrile/methacrylonitrile, transporting the remaining cooled gaseous effluent containing acrylonitrile/methacrylonitrile into a second column (absorber) where the cooled effluent is contacted with a second aqueous stream to absorb substantially all of the remaining acrylonitrile/methacrylonitrile into the second aqueous stream, transporting the second aqueous stream containing the acrylonitrile/methacrylonitrile to a first distillation column (recovery column) for separation of the crude acrylonitrile/methacrylonitrile from the second aqueous stream, and transporting the separated crude acrylonitrile/methacrylonitrile to a second distilla

Abstract: An improved process for converting an acylcic monoolefin to its corresponding terminal organonitrile by reacting the monoolefin with hydrogen cyanide in the presence of zero-valent nickel, a phosphite ligand, and an insoluble Lewis acid promoter.